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Senator Kent Conrad has decided to remain chairman of the Budget Committee in the next Congress, a move which clears the way for Senator Debbie Stabenow to claim the top spot on the Agriculture Committee.

With Congress gearing up to craft the next farm bill, Mr. Conrad, a North Dakota Democrat, had considered taking the helm of the agriculture panel. (The committee’s current chairwoman, Senator Blanche Lincoln, an Arkansas Democrat, was defeated in her bid for another term in this month’s elections.)

But in the end, Mr. Conrad decided he would hold the most sway by staying right where he was.

“As chairman of the Budget Committee and a senior member of the Agriculture Committee, the people of North Dakota will be best represented in negotiations on the next farm bill, legislation to reduce our dependence on foreign energy, and renewed efforts to put our nation’s fiscal house in order,” the senator said in a Friday statement.

That move sets the stage for Ms. Stabenow, who is in line to be fifth in seniority on the agriculture panel next Congress, to become chairwoman. (The four above her all chair other committees.)

In a statement of her own, the Michigan Democrat said agriculture was crucial to her state’s economy.

“I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, as we begin writing a new farm bill that once again recognizes the importance of America’s agricultural economy and rural communities,” Ms. Stabenow added.

The farm bill passed in 2008 contained billions of dollars for both agricultural and nutrition programs. Given the hard line many congressional Republicans are now taking on federal spending, chances are negotiations over the next version could get testy.

Both Mr. Conrad and Ms. Stabenow are up for re-election in 2012 – and both represent states where Republicans just made gains on the congressional level.

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Senator Kent Conrad has decided to remain chairman of the Budget Committee in the next Congress, a move which clears the way for Senator Debbie Stabenow to claim the top spot on the Agriculture Committee.

With Congress gearing up to craft the next farm bill, Mr. Conrad, a North Dakota Democrat, had considered taking the helm of the agriculture panel. (The committee’s current chairwoman, Senator Blanche Lincoln, an Arkansas Democrat, was defeated in her bid for another term in this month’s elections.)

But in the end, Mr. Conrad decided he would hold the most sway by staying right where he was.

“As chairman of the Budget Committee and a senior member of the Agriculture Committee, the people of North Dakota will be best represented in negotiations on the next farm bill, legislation to reduce our dependence on foreign energy, and renewed efforts to put our nation’s fiscal house in order,” the senator said in a Friday statement.

That move sets the stage for Ms. Stabenow, who is in line to be fifth in seniority on the agriculture panel next Congress, to become chairwoman. (The four above her all chair other committees.)

In a statement of her own, the Michigan Democrat said agriculture was crucial to her state’s economy.

“I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, as we begin writing a new farm bill that once again recognizes the importance of America’s agricultural economy and rural communities,” Ms. Stabenow added.

The farm bill passed in 2008 contained billions of dollars for both agricultural and nutrition programs. Given the hard line many congressional Republicans are now taking on federal spending, chances are negotiations over the next version could get testy.

Both Mr. Conrad and Ms. Stabenow are up for re-election in 2012 – and both represent states where Republicans just made gains on the congressional level.

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

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